St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-15
THE BROWN MURDER TRIAL.
Witnesses Being Examined at
AnOka---Little Being Developed
in Addition to What Was
Brought Out at the Inquest.

Special to the Globe.
ANoKA, Nov. little examination of
William Flicker and son, Herman, for
the suspected murder of DR.. William
Brown, of Fridley. on Tuesday, Nov. e.
occurred at the court this afternoon at 2
o'clock, having been held over from 9
o'clock this morning for the purpose of
securing witnesses, and w. f. Hale. of
Minneapolis, to assist the prosecution.
George III. Wyman and HammOns 4
HammOnS, of this city, are employed by
the defense. There is q crowd in at
tendance. Justice Hughes has
charge of the proceedings. Dr.. j.
A. Steele, of Minneapolis, was the first
witness. He admitted that, while the
wound in the base of the brain was ap-
parently made by hatchet, or other
similar weapon, it might also have been
made by sharp stone. Outside of this
his testimony did not differ materially
from that given at the inquest. DIR.
Ball, postmaster at Fridley. was called
next, and followed by DIR. ID. A. Jockey,
their testimony bearing on the nature of
Browns injuries and supposed cause of
death. Adjournment was had at until
8 9o'clOck tomorrow morning.
THE BULK OF EVIDENCE
has been given and the examination
will undoubtedly be finished tomorrow.
William Flicker, who is charged with
the murder of DIR. Brown, is a man of
small stature and sixty-siX years Of age,
sallow complexion, hair tinged with
gray, with chin whiskers. His brow is
wide, eyes small and sunken. He Looks
like man who would be. vindictive
and passionate, with tenac-
Herman t Flicker, who is alleged
TO be the principal in the murder, has
a decidedly bad cOuntenance. showing
large amount of cunning. He is of an
ungOyernable temper, it is stated-so
much so that his parents refuse to allow
him to go hunting with his elder
brother, as they feared, if his brother
did anything to offend him, he would
shoot him in the heat of anger. He is
only seventeen years of age, although
he looks older. He has black,
the Younger brother and sisters are also
in the city during the trial. Four of the
Locke brothers are here, and will have
the examination made as thorough as
any possible effort can make it.
CLUES AND SURMISEs.
A detective named Robins, from Min
neapOliS. has been working at Fridley
on the ease for the past two days in be
half of the state. He has already dis
covered important evidence throwing
light on the locality of the deed. 1t
has been the effort of the Fickers to
show that Brown received the mortal
wound after leaving their barnyard.
If it could be proven that he was struck
before leaving the barn a great point
would be gained. Two traces of blood
have already been found OH the Flicker
place. On the gate rail which Brown
let down to lead the calf through have
been found the bloody marks of two
fingers. The theory is that Brown in
stinctively put his hand to the back of
his head after receiving the wound and
then opened the gate with. the same
hand covered with blood. A portion of
the rail on which the marks appear has
been sawed off and will be microscopic
ally examined. On the handle of the
pitchfork in the cow stable marks APP
parently of blood have been found.
These clues will be carefully exam
ined and may form invaluable links in
the testimony. The prosecution has
also considerable interest in the where
abOuts of the oldest Flicker boy, Bill,
who is ostensibly away on hunting
trip. He has been seen twice at the
Flicker place since the murder, though
the family s:outly maintain that he is
away, and will not be back for some
weeks. This lead i'm the case will also
be closely followed. In fact every clue
will be run down by the prosecution.
In support of the theory that the Flick
ers have carefully agreed OH story, it
is now alleged that after Mrs. Flicker
gave her testimony at the inquest she
went straight to the old man and told
him rapidly in German all her testi-
nolsr, and afterwards did til same to
Herman. firstg liking if any one in the
room could aSeak German.